Westhaven and Viaduct Harbour Walk (Self Guided), Auckland

If you feel like a day out doing a little light shopping and getting a healthy breath of sea-air, why not head over to the Westhaven Marina and Viaduct Harbor. This is one of Auckland’s top spots for locals and tourist alike, and is a beautiful, busy area. You can just wander around the waterfront drinking in the sight of fantastic boats of all shapes and sizes – from original Maori waka to world class racing yachts.

You will come across rugged boats that have crossed all the oceans in the world and luxury coast-hugging motor cruisers. This is a true polyglot area, as sailors from all over the globe berth their crafts for a few hours or a few days before returning to the open sea. You will find the people as fascinating as their boats, from the hearty “captains” in their white pants and blue blazers to true sea-dogs with their slightly rolling gait that comes from months away from land.

You can take a boat tour of the lovely Hauraki Gulf, or try out a little jet-skiing in a designed area for this activity. Don’t miss a trip to the fabulous Auckland Fish Market where you will find a huge variety of fresh fish and seafood. Dine in a world-class restaurant on the water’s edge in Viaduct Harbor and spend a leisurely afternoon browsing the shops and galleries that have a great collection of marine-connected articles and paintings.